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196 THI ? . CONDOR VoL. Xl coloring, which I have described at some length in the article termed "A Defense of Oology," to be publisht in a future Co?)oR. A strange departure from the usual tree-nests were those placed on the ground. These were in swampy meadow-land, which, when the birds start to nest in May, affords practically no concealment ?/s the grass is very short. That many of those birds nesting on the ground come to an untimely end I feel, is quite certain, for I found about a dozen of these terrestrial nests deserted; and nearby a scattered bunch of the dark feathers of Euphagus testified to the sudden end of one of the owners. Along the beach front between Bijou and Lakeside this condition was particularly noticeable; for five nests were found in this state. Various mammals, especially the smaller species, are extremely common in this region; and the sitting birds, on a poorly-concealed nest and being of conspicuous plumage, no doubt fall an easy prey. Some years ago I mentioned in The Auk (vol. xx, no. 2) finding several nests of the Brewer Blackbird at Rowlands ?--? built in piles out in the lake, one being above where the ?' ? ?1 ' water was twenty feet deep. ? " This year my attention was ?' called to one in a similar situ- ? ation at Bijou by Mr. Wilton ? Young. The pile in which the nest was placed formed a part of the main wharf. A ? portion ,of the side had been torn away leaving sufficient ? ? space for the bird to construct a nest. As it was some dis- tance from the top of the pile and faced lakeward it was un- noticed by those who were continually passing thru the day within a foot or so of it. ?i?x's ?x?o?) ov ?)?v-wax?x? woxoax?wv Desiring to photograph the nest and eggs in situ when Mr. Oluf Heinemann arrived, I collected the set of four eggs, on June seventh, they be- ing then well along in incubation. The nest was a frail structure (conditions did not allow, nor was it necessary for it to be otherwise) of rootlets, grasses, weed stems, a few pine needles, and lined with horse-hair. It was placed thirteen inch%s above the water which was three feet deep. On June 19, after more pressing work had been done, Heinemann and I assembled with the various photographic paraphernalia on the beach at a time when the light came at a proper angle and proceeded to take the picture. Of course the usual tripod legs were far too short for this class of work; but these were easily lengthened by some long poles we found lying handy. It was likewise necessary for Heinemann to don a bathing suit in order to take the picture which is shown herewith. The smaller view by the writer shows Heinemann and his method of deep water photography. ?n P)'ancisco, California.